Printing ribbon moistener



Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITE-D sTA'rEs Firemen-ICE 3 Claims.

The object of the invention is to provide an attachment for use in connection with typewriters, adding machines and equivalent apparatus employing a ribbon for imprinting purposes, so that the ribbon may be maintained in a fresh condition throughout its available life; to provide a device of the kind indicated which may be attached to the ribbon bobbins or spools of the conventional machines without modifica- 16 tion of the latter; and to provide a ribbon moistener which is of simple form and therefore susceptible of cheap manufacture.

With this object in view, the invention consists in a construction and combination of parts of which a preferred embodiment is illustrated in the accompanying drawing but to which embodiment the invention is not to be restricted. Continued use in practice may dictate certain changes or alterations and the right is claimed to make any which fall within the scope of the annexed claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional View of the invention applied in operative position to 26- a ribbon.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the base member of the attachment.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the structure of Figure 2.

.30 Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the moistener the ink contained thereon being maintained in proper condition and since they are frequently discarded while otherwise usable and because of the drying out of the moisture, the usable life of a ribbon may be prolonged if suificient moisture J: can be readily supplied. In the present invention,

provision is made for this moisture supply by the use of the pad member 10, circular in form to accord with the top of the ribbon spool 11 and slotted, as indicated at 12, to clear the arms 1561 of the ribbon spool and the center or disk portion of the latter, so that projecting wads 14 may be provided to bear upon the edges of the convolutions of the ribbon 15. To maintain the pad in its position on top of the spool, a base member $5 116 is provided having a disk portion corresponding to the disk portion of the spool and radial arms to lie on top of the arms of the spool with a rim lying on top of the rim of the spool. The base member at the periphery of the rim is provided with downturned lugs 17 61?; with terminal hook portions 18 to hook under the edge of the rim of the spool, these hook portions having adjacent bevelled portions, so that the base member may be sprung over the top of the spool and thereby engaged with the latter.

The pad is recessed at its periphery as indicated at 18, the depth of the recess being the same as the slots 12 and the pad is thus received on the base portion, the rim of the base seating in the recess 18, the arms in the slots 12 and 711 the disk portion in the central clearance space.

The base member is provided with an upstanding stud 18" which, when the base is attached to the spool, is aligned with the spool stud 19. This stud passes through an opening in the pad- 10 at the center and through a central opening in the cap member 20 which completely covers the pad, its downturned flange 21 seating on the rim 16 of the base member. The central opening in the cap member is of much larger diameter than the stud 18", so that the spiral spring 22 which is placed over the stud after the pad has been positioned may be disposed in said central opening. The pad on the upper face is counterbored as indicated at 23 to receive the lower end of the spring and the latter extends in a series of widely separated spirals from the bottom of the counterbore to the retaining nut 23, the lat ter being engaged with the upper threaded end of the stud 18 and being provided with an eccentrically disposed oil receiving hole 24.

Oil such as is necessary to provide the neces sary moisture for the ink on the ribbon is applied to the pad 10 through the hole or opening 24, following the stud 18 down between the spirals of the spring, diffusing through the pad, reaching the ribbon at the edges thereof through the wad portions 14 of the pad.

The slots 12 in the pad maintain the registramo tion of the arms of the spool and those of the base member 16, so that when the device is once attached, it may remain positioned until it becomes necessary to replace the ribbon, when the device may be detached from the spool by the removal of the base and attached to a new spool, or reapplied to the old spool after the new ribbon has been mounted thereon. Or the device may be detached only to be applied as the ribbon shows evidences of losing its freshness.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In combination with a ribbon spool and a ribbon reeled thereon, a pad disposed on top of the spool with wad portions in contact with the edges of the convolutions of the ribbon, and means for retaining the pad in position and comprising a base member formed with hook lugs engaging with the spool at the periphery of one of the ends thereof.

2. In combination with a ribbon spool and a ribbon reeled thereon, a pad disposed on top of the spool with wad portions in contact with the edges of the convolutions of the ribbon, and means for retaining the pad in position and comprising a base member formed with hook lugs engaging with the spool at the periphery of one of the ends thereof, and a cap member covering the pad.

3. In combination with a ribbon spool and a ribbon reeled thereon, a pad disposed on top of the spool with Wad portions in contact with the edges of the oonvolutions of the ribbon, and means for retaining the pad in position and comprising a base member formed with hook lugs engaging with the spool at the periphery of one of the ends thereof, and a cap member covering the pad, the base member having an upstanding stud extending through the pad and cap member and a nut attached to the stud and bearing upon the top of the cap member.

his CARL F. X HANABLE.

mark Witness:

En TINDER. 

